After a collision in California you must stop, call 911 if anyone is hurt, and exchange license, registration, insurance and address information. If anyone was injured or killed, or property damage is over $1,000, each driver must also file a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) with the DMV within 10 days.
What should you do right after a crash?
Stop first, then deal with safety, then share information. The handbook gives these steps in this order.
- Stop. You must stop. Leaving the scene is a hit-and-run, and the handbook says the punishment is severe.
- Get help for anyone hurt. Call 911 right away if anyone is injured.
- Clear the road if no one is hurt. Move your vehicle out of traffic, then call 911. Vehicle Code 20002 says moving the car this way "does not affect the question of fault."
- Share your information. Show your driver's license, vehicle registration card, insurance information and current address to the other driver, any officer, and anyone else involved.
- Report injuries to law enforcement. If anyone is injured or killed, a report to law enforcement is due within 24 hours. Your insurance agent, broker or legal representative can file it.
- File the SR 1 with DMV within 10 days when the collision meets the rules below.
What information do you exchange after a collision?
Every driver must swap the details in Vehicle Code 16025 with the other driver or property owner at the scene. Skipping this step is an infraction.
| About | What to give |
|---|---|
| The driver | Name, current home address and driver's license number |
| The vehicle | Vehicle identification number (VIN) |
| The owner | Current home address of the registered owner |
| Insurance | Name and address of the insurance company and the policy number |
Write these details down before you leave the scene, because you will need some of them again. The DMV's SR 1 asks for your license, plate number or VIN, your insurance information and the other party's vehicle and insurance details.
When do you have to report a collision to the DMV?
You must report a collision to the DMV within 10 days if anyone was hurt or killed, or if property damage was over $1,000. The DMV says this applies "no matter how minor the injury." Each driver files, whether or not they caused the crash, and the rule applies even on private property.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is it required? | Anyone injured (even minor) or killed, or more than $1,000 in property damage |
| Deadline | Within 10 days of the collision |
| Who files? | Each driver, or their insurance agent, broker or legal representative |
| Does the police report count? | No. The SR 1 is required in addition to any police, CHP or insurance report |
| Where? | Online through the DMV's SR-1 page; a paper form exists but is slower to process |
| What if you skip it? | The handbook says your driving privilege will be suspended |
What if you hit a parked car or someone's property?
Try to find the owner first. If you cannot, leave a note with your name, phone number and address, and attach it securely to the vehicle or property. Then report the collision to law enforcement.
Vehicle Code 20002 names who to tell: the city police where it happened, or the California Highway Patrol in unincorporated areas. The note must also say what happened. Driving away without doing either is a misdemeanor. The same duty applies if your car rolls into something after you park it.
If you hit an animal, call the nearest humane society or law enforcement. The handbook says not to try to move an injured animal.
Does a collision go on your driving record?
Yes, if it meets the reporting rules above. The handbook says the DMV adds it to your record, and "it does not matter who caused the collision." For provisional drivers, at-fault collisions also count toward the DMV's restrictions.
| At-fault collisions or violation convictions | What can happen |
|---|---|
| One | DMV may take action on the license |
| Two, or one of each | No driving for 30 days unless a licensed adult 25 or older rides along |
| Three, or a mix of three | Six-month suspension and one year of probation |
Insurance is checked after a crash too. The handbook says a driver in a collision without proper insurance faces a suspension of up to four years, no matter who was at fault. Our guide to car insurance for teen drivers explains the minimums.
Quick answers
Check yourself
Sources
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 10: Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV: Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) (opens in a new tab)
- California Vehicle Code 16025 (exchange of information) (opens in a new tab)
- California Vehicle Code 20002 (property damage collisions) (opens in a new tab)
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road (Continued), minor's license (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV: Sample Class C Written Test 3 (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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